Background
We all want clean air, clean water
and open spaces. But it takes independent research and tough-minded
advocacy to win concrete results for our environment, especially when
powerful interests stand in the way of environmental progress. That's
the idea behind Environment Iowa. We focus on protecting Iowa's air,
water and open spaces. We speak out and take action at the local, state
and national levels to improve the quality of our environment and our
lives.
Environment Iowa is hiring people for our Fellowship
Program. We’re part of a nationwide network of similar state-based
environmental groups that are also hiring. If you’re interested in a
position in another state, you can apply through Environment Iowa.
Fellowship Program: 2008 – 2010 Job Description
We’re
hiring recent college graduates to help win campaigns with Environment
Iowa or one of our partner groups. By working together, our network’s
efforts to pass renewable energy standards in the states has already
resulted in decreasing global warming pollution – the equivalent of
taking 1.5 million cars off the road. We have protected pristine
wilderness areas across the country, including 4 million acres of
forests in Iowa and convinced the state to designate three key areas
protected in Michigan. We have protected countless waterways, including
designating 45 waterways for Clean Water Act protections in New Jersey
and passing an ocean protection bill in California. And, we’ve passed
renewable energy standards in Congress.
Environment Iowa Fellows
will get a chance to work with some of the top environmental advocates
and organizers in the country, and will have an immediate impact on a
critical environmental issue. The Fellowship Program gives recent
college graduates the training and experience to assume leadership
roles in the environmental movement for the long term.
The Fellowship Program positions include, but are not limited to:
Issue
Associate: As an issue associate, you’ll master your issue area and
build the kind of powerful support it takes to make your voice heard
and change public policy. Responsibilities include: researching and
writing reports, developing and coordinating campaigns, preparing
legislative testimony, building statewide and national coalitions,
organizing media events, raising funds, and meeting with elected
officials.
Field Associate: As a field associate, you’ll build
and demonstrate support for proposals at the state or federal level to
ensure that decision-makers hear from and pay attention to the public.
You must quickly master the basics of a variety of issues, and then
reach out to individuals, media outlets and organizations to build
visibility and gain their support.
Issue associates and field
associates may work on any of the following issues: global warming,
energy policy, clean air and water, preserving our open spaces, and
more. Each associate takes on the critical role of building the
organization by canvassing at various times during the year and running
a citizen outreach office during the summer.
Qualifications
We
are looking for recent college graduates who care about the environment
and are driven to preserve it for the future. We look for strong
leadership skills, academic excellence, problem solving ability, and
top-notch written and verbal skills. We value experience with campus
and activist groups.
Training and Experience
A
key part of the Environment Iowa mission is to train leaders who are
capable of organizing and winning results for the environment.
Immediately following an intensive training, fellows are trusted with
significant responsibilities in their jobs. The training lasts 10 days,
is fully paid, and starts in mid-August in Boston. Four additional
trainings take place during the rest of the year. Training topics
include skills and political strategy; and topics are covered in a mix
of lectures, classroom briefings and discussions, role-plays and
in-the-field training. Throughout the year, you gain valuable skills
and experience in both making your voice heard on the issues and in
building an organization through grant-writing, canvassing, recruiting
and managing staff, and directing campaigns.
Placement
Fellowship
candidates are considered for positions with Environment Iowa and our
network of state environment group offices across the country. If you
are interested only in particular locations, you will be asked to
identify those locations during the interview process. If you are
offered a fellowship position, you are guaranteed placement in one of
your desired locations. In most cases, final placement, including
location and position, occurs during the August training in Boston.
Salary & benefits
As
a recent graduate, you will earn $23,750 in your first year and $24,250
in your second year. Salary for experienced candidates is commensurate
with relevant professional experience and/or advanced degrees. You will
be eligible to opt in to our group health plan, and will accrue two
weeks paid vacation over the course of your first year, three weeks in
your second year and will be eligible to apply for college loan
assistance. In your second year, you will also be eligible to
participate in our 401(k) plan.
Locations
Our
network of environmental groups is currently hiring for positions in:
Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; Sacramento, CA; San Francisco, CA; Santa
Barbara, CA; Denver, CO; Hartford, CT; Washington, DC; Tallahassee, FL;
Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Portland, ME; Boston, MA; Ann Arbor, MI;
Trenton, NJ; Baltimore, MD; Concord, NH; Albuquerque, NM; Raleigh, NC;
Columbus, OH; Portland, OR; Providence, RI; Austin, TX; Seattle, WA;
Philadelphia, PA; Madison, WI
How to apply
Fill out our online application form. Please contact Recruitment Director Maria Schweitzer with any questions: Jobs@EnvironmentIowa.org.